Crib



Feb. 25, 1941. e. F. WERNBERG CRIB '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

(Ittorneg Feb. 25, 1941. WERNBERG 2233,301

' I .CRIB

Filed Oct. 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' Bnuentor afforne g Feb. 25, 1941.

G. F. WERNBERG CRIB Filed Oct. 5. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mqentor K u a EMA-4...

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRIB Application October 3,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to cribs and more particularly to childrens cribs having movable side frames or panels.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved panel mounting for a crib which permits the panel to be raised and lowered while in a vertical position and also to be readily manipulated into a horizontal position beneath the understructure of the crib.

It is another object of my invention to guide fully and positively such a crib panel in its entire range of movement between vertical and horizontal positions.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means for guiding such a panel.

It is another object of my invention to guide such a movable side panel so that it will traverse a narrow space as it is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions.

It is another object of my invention to provide a crib having an understructure relatively close to the floor and a side panel which is guided to swing downwardly and inwardly into a horizontal position beneath the understructure, the guiding of the panel being such that the panel is caused to swing forwardly of the crib only slightly as it is moved into its horizontal position.

A feature of my invention is to guide the movable side panel, as it is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions, so that it will traverse a space along the planes of such positions having a width which is small relative to the height of the panel; another feature is to guide the movable side panel so that the space which it traverses will be narrow and will extend substantially equal maximum distances from each side of the medial planes of the vertical and horizontal positions of the panel.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved latching means for the movable side panel which is so positioned and controlled as to be readily manipulated, and yet inaccessible for operation to a child in the crib.

Another object of my invention is to provide a movable side panel which is fully guided and which is automatically latched against downward movement as it is moved upwardly along the side of the crib, and which is automatically latched against both upward and downward movement as it is moved into the upper end portion of its vertical travel.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an easily movable side panel which is cushioned against rattling from jarring of the crib 1939, Serial N0. 297,637

or from a shaking oi the side panel such as may be caused by a child in the crib.

Other and allied objects of my invention will more fully appear from the following description and the appended claims. 5

In the description of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a crib in accordance with my invention; 10

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing in dashdot lines various positions of the movable side panel;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the crib with parts being shown in section and parts omitted; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged View of a portion of the crib.

Reference being had to the figures, particularly to Figure 1, there will be seen a crib having similar left and right end sections l and I. These end sections are respectively provided with front corner posts 2 and 2', back corner posts 3 and 3, top rails 4! and 4, bottom rails 5 and 5', and inset panels 6 and ii. The end sections are rigidly connected together by means of a rearward frame or panel I which serves to close the rearward side of the crib, and by means of front and back bars 8 and 3' which serve as supports for the spring and mattress (not shown). The rearward panel 1 comprises upper and lower rails 'i' and 'l" which are each connected, at their ends, to the corner posts 3 and 3 by means of screws, such as the screws 9 and 9' which serve to hold the top rail 1 to the corner posts 3 and 3', respectively, as shown in Figure 1. The bars 8 and 8' are bridged across and attached to sills Ill and lb respectively provided on the inner sides of theend sections I and I. The ends of the bars fit into vertical grooves pro 4 vided in the sills, the fitting of the right end of the bar 8 into a groove 1 1 provided in the rearward portion of the sill Ill being shown in Figure 3. Secured to each end of the bars 8 and 8 is an angle iron such as the angle iron E2 on the left end of the bar 8' asshown in Figure 4. These angle irons fit into mortises which are provided between the sills and panels of the end sections, there being a mortise opposite each of the grooves abovementioned such as mortise I3 opposite the groove II as shown in Figure 3. The attachment of the rearward panel I to the corner posts 3 and 3 and of the bars 8 and 8' to the sills I0 and ID, as here explained, serves to form a rigid crib structure. To render the crib readily portable the corner posts may be mounted on casters I4 such as are shown in Figure 2.

The mattress support comprises a frame I5 which may carry any suitable bed spring structure (not shown). At each end of the frame there is pivoted a supporting bail I6 having a transverse bar I6. The bails are pivoted to swing beneath the frame I5. When the frame I5 rests directly on the supporting bars 8 and 8' the bails are held in their most inward positions. However, when either end of the frame I5 is lifted the transverse bar of the bail at the end being raised trails outwardly along the bars 8 and 8' and across a series of teeth or notches I'I provided along each end portion of the bars 8 and 8. When an end of the frame has been raised to the desired level it will then be held at that point by the engagement of the transverse bar I6 of its respective bail with one pair of the notches II. In a similar manner the other end of the frame I5 may be adjusted to a suitable level. The bails I6 may be readily released from the notches I! to permit a lowering of the frame by first raising the frame and then swinging the bails upwardly. To guide the movement of the frame there is provided at each corner of the crib a vertically extending guide member I8, such as are shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A complete opening of a crib at one of its sides greatly increases its utility since, for example, this provides ready access to the bedding and permits the crib to be used, if'desired, as a day bed. Such opening of the crib may be eflected by the provision of a side frame or panel which is movable from a vertical position at the side of the crib into a horizontal position beneath the understructure of the crib. In order that such movement of this side panel may be conveniently efiected without being directed by the operator I provide, in accordance with my invention, means for positively guiding the side panel between its vertical and horizontal positions along a predetermined path of movement. This path of movement is chosen so that the side panel will be caused to move through a space which is confined closely to the medial planes of the vertical and horizontal, or closed and open, positions of the side panel. Such guiding of the side panel permits the understructure of the crib to be relatively close to the floor and an opening and closing of the panel while the crib is confined in a narrow space.

Reference being had to the drawings there will be seen a front movable frame or panel I9, sim-' ilar to the rearward panel I, and having upper and lower cross rails 20 and. 2| and left and right end bars '22 and 23. The panel I9 is guided to move up and down vertically at the side of the crib and also to swing rearwardly from its lower vertical position into a horizontal position beneath the supporting bars 8 and 8'. This guiding of the panel I9 may be conveniently effected by means of guide channels 24 and 25 which are preferably T-shaped in cross section and which are provided on the inner sides of the end sections I and I. portions extending downwardly along the adjacent sides of the corner posts 2 and 2', arcuate portions extending rearwardly into the lower rails 5 and 5, and horizontal portions extending along the greater part of the length of the rails 5 and 5', the vertical, arcuate and horizontal portions of the guide channel 24-which portions are respectively designated by the reference characters 24, 24" and 24"being shown in Figure These guide channels comp-rise vertical.

2. Carried by the left end'bar 22 of the panel I9 is a pair of studs 26, and carried by the right end bar 23 is a similar pair of studs 21. These studs, or tenons as they may be called, are flaredi. e., provided with heads-so as to fit the guide channels and to form therewith a slidable interlocking joint of a dovetail character. When the end sections of the crib are connected together, the studs are inserted in the guide channels by way of recesses in the horizontal portions of the guide channels while the side panel I9 is held in horizontal position, the recesses in the guide channel 24 being shown at 28 in Figure 2. The studs 26 and 21 respectively slidably engage the channels 24 and 25 to guide the side panel I9 along its path. This guiding of the side panel is such that when the studs are slid along the vertical portions of the guide channels the side panel is maintained in a vertical position; that when the lower one of each pair of studs is moved into the arcuate portions of the guide channels the side panel is caused to swing rearwardly beneath the crib; and that'when the studs are slid along the horizontal portions of the guide channels, the side panel is maintained in a horizontal position.

It is an important feature of my invention. that the studs of each pair, above described, be 10- cated intermediate of the center and of the upper and lower extremities respectively of the side panel I9 and at a substantial distance from the top and bottomor in other words, in the vicinities midway of the center and the upper and lower extremities respectively. This is donein order that the side panel will be caused to traverse a narrow space as it is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions, or as more specifically stated, in order that the maximum displacement of any part of the panel from the medial planes of its vertical and horizontal positions will be maintained at a minimum. In so guiding the movement of the panel I9, the understructure of the crib-which includes the supporting bars 8 and 8' and the frame I5may be located fairly close to the floor and yet the panel is caused to traverse a space along the medial planes of its vertical and horizontal positions having a width which is small relative to the height of the panel. This permits the side panel to be opened and closed while the crib is within a small space. Moreover the placing of the lower ones of the pivots 26 and 21 at a substantial distance from the lower extremity of the side panel I9 permits the horizontal position of the panel to be at a substantial distance from the floor while yet permitting the understructure of the bed to be relatively close to the floor. In order that the understructure of the bed may be positioned even more closely to the floor than is permitted by the particular guiding of the side panel as above explained, the end bars 22 and 23 of the side panel I9 are respectively provided with recesses 22' and 23' which permit the panel I9 to swing inwardly past the front guiding members I8 for the frame I5 as the panel is moved are slidably supported near their outer ends by sleeves 30 secured to the rail 2| and. at their inner ends by an actuating mechanism 3! also secured to the rail. This actuating mechanism, which need not herein be described in detail, comprises a forwardly extending slide 32 for controlling the rods 29. This slide is spring-pressed forwardly to normally hold the rods 29 in their outer positions and is movable rearwardly to cause the rods 29 to be moved inwardly towards each other. Coacting with the outer ends of the rods 29 are respective catch members 33. These catch members are respectively secured to the adjacent sides of the corner posts 2 and 2 near the lower ends thereof and are provided with lower, inclined faces 33' as shown in Figure 1. When the sidepanel I9 is moved upwardly from its lower vertical position the rods 29 snap over the catch members 33, being first moved inwardly by their contact with the inclined faces 33' and then outwardly as by reason of their biasing. Thus as the side panel 19 is moved upwardly from its lower vertical position it is automatically latched against downward movement but is yet freelymovable into higher positions. To then release the latch on the side panel, so that it may be moved downwardly below the understructure of the crib, it is only necessary to press the slide 32 rearwardly.

In order that the side panel I9 may also be latched in an upper vertical position there is secured to the adjacent faces of the posts 2 and 2', at substantially the levelof the bars 8 and B, respective catches in the form of plates 34 having inwardly curved central portions 3 apertured to receive the outer end portions 29 of the rods 29. As the side panel I9 is moved into the upper portion of its travel the rods 28 are cammed inwardly, by reason of the contact of their outer end portions 29 with the central portions 34- of the plates 35, and are guided so that they are brought into alignment with the apertures of these plates. When this alignment occurs the rods 29 are moved outwardly, by reason of their biasing, to engage the apertures in the plates 35, thereby causing the side panel to be locked against both upward and downward movement. The rods 29 are adapted to closely fit the apertures in the plates 34 so that when the side panel 19 is locked in its upward vertical position it will be held against side play. As an additional means for preventing play of the side panel IS in its supports I provide at each end of the side panel a leaf spring 35. These leaf springs respectively slide along the adjacent front corner and act to cushion the side panel [9 against rattling.

In order that the latching means for the side panel is will be largely hidden from view to improve the appearance of the crib, the rods 29 are carried along the lower inner corner of the rail 2| and the catches 33 and 34 are disposed rearwardly of the vertical plane of the side panel. Such positioning of the catches 3,3 and 33 causes the side panel Hi to move inwardly past the catches when this panel is swung into its horizontal position. The panel I9 is, however, maintained free of the lower catches 33 by the provision of respective recesses 22" and 23" in the end bars 22 and 23 of the side panel, and of the upper catches 34 by a. lengthening of the recesses 22 and 23 hereinbefore described.

It is to be noted that in the latching means above described there is provided a single controlthe slide 32for a latching device at each end of the panel E9. The slide 32 is located so as to be easily operated by pressing ones leg thereagainst, leaving the hands free to manipulate the panel I 9. Moreover, the slide 32 is inaccessible to a child in the crib, thereby preventing the child from accidentally opening the movable side panel.

It will be understood that the single embodiment of my invention herein described is merely illustrative and not limitative since the same is subject to many changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention, which I undertake to express according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a crib: the combination of end sections each provided with a guide having interconnected horizontal and vertical portions; a supporting frame carried by said end sections at a level above the horizontal portions of said guides; and a side closure angularly movable between a vertical position at a. side of the crib and a horizontal position below said supporting frame and having a pair of pivoting members at each end thereof slidably coacting with said guides positively to direct the side closure in its movement, said guides and pivoting members forming a slidable interlocking joint effective to hold said end sections against displacement away from the ends of said side closure, the pivoting mem bers of each of said pairs being connected intermediate of the center and of the top and bottom respectively of the side panel and at a substantial distance from the top and bottom, whereby to cause said side closure to traverse a. space confined closely to the medial planes of its vertical and horizontal positions as the side closure is moved between such positions.

2. In a crib: the combination of end sections each provided with an angular guide channel having vertical and lower horizontal portions; a supporting frame carried by said end sections at a level above the horizontal portions of said guides; and a side closure angularly movable between a vertical position at a side of the crib and a horizontal position below said supporting frame and having a pair of pivoting tenons at each end thereof slidably coacting with said guide channels positively to direct the movement of the side closure, said tenons and guide channels forming slidable interlocking joints effective to hold said end sections against outward displacement from said side closure, the pivoting tenons of each of said pairs being connected within the vicinities midway of the center and of the upper and lower extremities respectively of the side closure, whereby to cause the side closure, as it is moved between its vertical and horizontal positions, to traverse along the planes of such positions a narrow space which extends through substantially equal maximum distances from each side of said planes.

GILBERT F. WERNBERG. 

